Darius Garland scores 26 points as the Cavaliers beat the defending champion Nuggets 121-109
CLEVELAND (AP) Darius Garland scored 26 points and undrafted rookie Craig Porter Jr. had a career-high 21 points, powering the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 121-109 victory over the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets on Sunday night.
Evan Mobley had 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Jarrett Allen added 15 points for Cleveland, which built a season-high 26-point lead en route to winning its third in a row. The Cavaliers outscored Denver by 42 in the 29 minutes that Allen was on the court.
“Everyone stepped up to the plate, that’s what got us the win,” Mobley said. “J.A. played a huge part with putting pressure on the rim. Between him and me and D.G., it was just a work of art playing basketball the right way and doing things together.”
Nuggets center Nikola Jokic battled foul trouble and had 18 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists in 28 minutes. The two-time MVP had been the first player to start a season with 12 games of at least 20 points and 10 rebounds since Elgin Baylor in 1967.
“They were better than us today,” Jokic said. “I thought we played a little stagnant and needed more movement. They were getting whatever they wanted on the offensive glass and in the lane.”
Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, who is averaging 29.2 points, was inactive with a right hamstring strain and sixth man Caris LeVert did not play because of a sore left knee.
Cleveland, which did not trail in the final three quarters, outrebounded the Nuggets 47-33 with power forward Mobley and center Allen both fronting and playing behind Jokic on many possessions.
“Give all credit to our bigs, they did a hell of a job guarding Jokic and made it hard for him to catch the ball,” said Garland, who also had six assists. “We were a little short-handed and our defense carried us the entire game. That was the key, I thought.”
Michael Porter Jr. scored 21 points and Christian Braun had 13 points off the bench for Denver, which dropped its fourth straight on the road after winning its first two. The Nuggets are 0-2 on a five-game trip that ends Friday in Houston.
“We're not rebounding as a team,” Jokic said. “Sometimes we don't box out and sometimes it's lucky bounces, but those are excuses.”
Garland scored 16 points and Mobley had 12 in the first half as the Cavaliers took a 66-58 advantage into the break. Allen scored their first eight points in the third, then absorbed a flagrant foul from Jokic minutes later that was his fifth personal.
“I thought Jarrett was phenomenal, taking the challenge guarding one of the best players in our game,” Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “He made Jokic work for everything.”
Nuggets shooting guard Jamal Murray, who missed his sixth straight game with a right hamstring strain, is traveling with the team. Coach Michael Malone has not ruled out him returning on the trip.
UP NEXT
Nuggets: Visit Detroit on Monday night.
Cavaliers: Visit Philadelphia on Tuesday night.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Nikola Jokic vs. Jarrett Allen (Aaron Gordon gains possession) | ||
| 11:40 |  | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point driving hook shot | 2-0 |
| 11:23 | | Nikola Jokic blocks Jarrett Allen's two point cutting layup | ||
| 11:20 | | Evan Mobley offensive rebound | ||
| 11:20 | | +2 | Evan Mobley makes two point putback layup | 2-2 |
| 10:58 | | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point floating jump shot (Reggie Jackson assists) | 4-2 |
| 10:46 | | +2 | Evan Mobley makes two point jump shot (Max Strus assists) | 4-4 |
| 10:32 | | Reggie Jackson misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 10:30 | | Dean Wade defensive rebound | ||
| 10:23 | | Michael Porter Jr. shooting foul (Darius Garland draws the foul) | ||
| 10:23 | | +1 | Darius Garland makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 4-5 |
| 10:23 | | Darius Garland misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 10:20 | | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | ||
| 10:07 | | +2 | Aaron Gordon makes two point cutting dunk (Nikola Jokic assists) | 6-5 |
| 9:55 | | Nikola Jokic shooting foul (Max Strus draws the foul) | ||
| 9:55 | | +1 | Max Strus makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 6-6 |
| 9:55 | | Max Strus misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 9:53 | | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 9:38 | | Reggie Jackson turnover (bad pass) (Darius Garland steals) | ||
| 9:31 | | Jarrett Allen misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 9:29 | | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | ||
| 9:23 | | Evan Mobley blocks Michael Porter Jr.'s two point driving layup | ||
| 9:20 | | Michael Porter Jr. offensive rebound | ||
| 9:11 | | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 9:08 | | Evan Mobley defensive rebound | ||
| 9:03 | | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope personal foul (Max Strus draws the foul) | ||
| 8:50 | | +3 | Darius Garland makes three point pullup jump shot (Dean Wade assists) | 6-9 |
| 8:31 | | +3 | Michael Porter Jr. makes three point jump shot (Aaron Gordon assists) | 9-9 |
| 8:15 | | +2 | Evan Mobley makes two point jump shot (Max Strus assists) | 9-11 |
| 7:59 | | +3 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope makes three point jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 12-11 |
| 7:49 | | Darius Garland turnover (bad pass) (Reggie Jackson steals) | ||
| 7:43 | | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope misses two point running layup | ||
| 7:41 | | Max Strus defensive rebound | ||
| 7:37 | | Max Strus misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 7:35 | | Evan Mobley offensive rebound | ||
| 7:32 | | +3 | Max Strus makes three point jump shot (Evan Mobley assists) | 12-14 |
| 7:06 | | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 14-14 |
| 6:56 | | +2 | Darius Garland makes two point pullup jump shot | 14-16 |
| 6:44 | | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:38 | | Dean Wade defensive rebound | ||
| 6:36 | | Max Strus misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 6:35 | | Nuggets defensive rebound | ||
| 6:35 | | Cavaliers 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:23 | | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point cutting layup (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope assists) | 16-16 |
| 6:00 | | Georges Niang misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | ||
| 5:57 | | Tristan Thompson offensive rebound | ||
| 5:55 | | +2 | Tristan Thompson makes two point tip layup | 16-18 |
| 5:45 | | Aaron Gordon misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 5:44 | | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope offensive rebound | ||
| 5:43 | | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope misses two point tip layup | ||
| 5:42 | | Tristan Thompson defensive rebound | ||
| 5:23 | | +3 | Max Strus makes three point jump shot (Evan Mobley assists) | 16-21 |
| 5:08 | | +3 | Michael Porter Jr. makes three point jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 19-21 |
| 4:48 | | +2 | Darius Garland makes two point driving layup (Max Strus assists) | 19-23 |
| 4:29 | | Michael Porter Jr. misses two point driving layup | ||
| 4:26 | | Tristan Thompson defensive rebound | ||
| 4:19 | | +3 | Georges Niang makes three point jump shot (Max Strus assists) | 19-26 |
| 4:19 | | Nuggets 60 second timeout | ||
| 4:03 | | Christian Braun misses two point driving bank hook shot | ||
| 4:00 | | Georges Niang defensive rebound | ||
| 3:53 | | Craig Porter misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 3:51 | | Craig Porter offensive rebound | ||
| 3:42 | | Evan Mobley misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | ||
| 3:39 | | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | ||
| 3:33 | | +2 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope makes two point driving finger roll layup (Nikola Jokic assists) | 21-26 |
| 3:12 | | Craig Porter turnover (bad pass) (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope steals) | ||
| 3:11 | | Craig Porter shooting foul (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope draws the foul) | ||
| 3:11 | | +1 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 22-26 |
| 3:11 | | +1 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 23-26 |
| 2:48 | | Max Strus turnover (lost ball) (Jalen Pickett steals) | ||
| 2:33 | | Nikola Jokic misses two point turnaround hook shot | ||
| 2:31 | | Zeke Nnaji offensive rebound | ||
| 2:30 | | +2 | Zeke Nnaji makes two point tip dunk | 25-26 |
| 2:18 | | +2 | Craig Porter makes two point driving layup | 25-28 |
| 2:18 | | Nikola Jokic shooting foul (Craig Porter draws the foul) | ||
| 2:18 | | +1 | Craig Porter makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 25-29 |
| 2:03 | | Craig Porter blocks Jalen Pickett's two point floating jump shot | ||
| 1:58 | | Darius Garland defensive rebound | ||
| 1:56 | | Dean Wade misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 1:54 | | Jalen Pickett defensive rebound | ||
| 1:38 | | Christian Braun misses two point driving hook shot | ||
| 1:34 | | Zeke Nnaji offensive rebound | ||
| 1:34 | | Zeke Nnaji misses two point tip layup | ||
| 1:34 | | Dean Wade defensive rebound | ||
| 1:30 | | Jarrett Allen turnover (traveling) | ||
| 1:13 | | +2 | Reggie Jackson makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 27-29 |
| 0:58 | | Dean Wade misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:56 | | Zeke Nnaji defensive rebound | ||
| 0:53 | | Georges Niang personal foul (Reggie Jackson draws the foul) | ||
| 0:44 | | Zeke Nnaji turnover (bad pass) (Dean Wade steals) | ||
| 0:29 | | Georges Niang misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 0:27 | | Justin Holiday defensive rebound | ||
| 0:05 | | Justin Holiday misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:02 | | Dean Wade defensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:47 | | +3 | Sam Merrill makes three point jump shot (Craig Porter assists) | 27-32 |
| 11:29 | | Reggie Jackson misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 11:26 | | Zeke Nnaji offensive rebound | ||
| 11:25 | | +2 | Zeke Nnaji makes two point tip layup | 29-32 |
| 11:05 | | +3 | Dean Wade makes three point turnaround jump shot | 29-35 |
| 10:39 | | Christian Braun misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 10:37 | | Dean Wade defensive rebound | ||
| 10:24 | | Zeke Nnaji shooting foul (Craig Porter draws the foul) | ||
| 10:24 | | +1 | Craig Porter makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 29-36 |
| 10:24 | | +1 | Craig Porter makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 29-37 |
| 10:11 | | +2 | Reggie Jackson makes two point driving floating jump shot (Justin Holiday assists) | 31-37 |
| 9:58 | | Sam Merrill misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:56 | | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 9:50 | | Michael Porter Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Dean Wade steals) | ||
| 9:48 | | Zeke Nnaji shooting foul (Craig Porter draws the foul) | ||
| 9:48 | | +1 | Craig Porter makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 31-38 |
| 9:48 | | +1 | Craig Porter makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 31-39 |
| 9:38 | | Reggie Jackson offensive foul (Charge) (Sam Merrill draws the foul) | ||
| 9:38 | | Reggie Jackson turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 9:26 | | +2 | Craig Porter makes two point turnaround jump shot (Jarrett Allen assists) | 31-41 |
| 9:25 | | Nuggets 60 second timeout | ||
| 9:12 | | Aaron Gordon misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:10 | | Sam Merrill defensive rebound | ||
| 8:55 | | +2 | Craig Porter makes two point cutting layup (Jarrett Allen assists) | 31-43 |
| 8:38 | | Nikola Jokic misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 8:34 | | Georges Niang defensive rebound | ||
| 8:29 | | Georges Niang misses two point driving layup | ||
| 8:26 | | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 8:17 | | +2 | Aaron Gordon makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 33-43 |
| 8:04 | | Craig Porter misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 8:02 | | Jarrett Allen offensive rebound | ||
| 7:59 | | +3 | Sam Merrill makes three point jump shot (Georges Niang assists) | 33-46 |
| 7:51 | | Sam Merrill personal foul (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope draws the foul) | ||
| 7:34 | | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 35-46 |
| 7:21 | | Tristan Thompson misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 7:17 | | Aaron Gordon defensive rebound | ||
| 7:08 | | Tristan Thompson personal foul (Nikola Jokic draws the foul) | ||
| 7:03 | | +3 | Michael Porter Jr. makes three point pullup jump shot (Aaron Gordon assists) | 38-46 |
| 6:51 | | Julian Strawther personal foul (Max Strus draws the foul) | ||
| 6:44 | | Sam Merrill misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:40 | | Sam Merrill offensive rebound | ||
| 6:35 | | Darius Garland misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 6:32 | | Christian Braun defensive rebound | ||
| 6:28 | | +2 | Christian Braun makes two point running layup | 40-46 |
| 6:07 | | Aaron Gordon blocks Tristan Thompson's two point cutting dunk | ||
| 5:54 | | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | ||
| 5:50 | | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point running layup | 42-46 |
| 5:33 | | Max Strus misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:33 | | Nuggets defensive rebound | ||
| 5:21 | | +2 | Aaron Gordon makes two point cutting dunk (Nikola Jokic assists) | 44-46 |
| 5:21 | | Aaron Gordon technical foul (Rim hanging) | ||
| 5:21 | | Cavaliers 60 second timeout | ||
| 5:21 | | +1 | Darius Garland makes technical free throw 1 of 1 | 44-47 |
| 5:11 | | Julian Strawther blocks Sam Merrill's three point jump shot | ||
| 5:08 | | Julian Strawther defensive rebound | ||
| 5:06 | | +2 | Julian Strawther makes two point running dunk | 46-47 |
| 4:57 | | Aaron Gordon shooting foul (Georges Niang draws the foul) | ||
| 4:57 | | +1 | Georges Niang makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 46-48 |
| 4:57 | | +1 | Georges Niang makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 46-49 |
| 4:41 | | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point cutting layup (Aaron Gordon assists) | 48-49 |
| 4:29 | | +2 | Darius Garland makes two point driving layup | 48-51 |
| 4:19 | | Evan Mobley blocks Christian Braun's two point cutting dunk | ||
| 4:15 | | Darius Garland defensive rebound |